Getting a minor in college can change the life and career of an individual. There are so many reasons why a college minor matters, and we will explore them in this article.
A college minor can open career doors for its holders and expand their knowledge and skills. Studying a college minor is not easy because it requires a lot of multitasking, resilience, and good time management, but it can be rewarding in the end.
Although getting a college minor can be rewarding in the long run, students need to pick minors that they can handle alongside their majors.
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In this article, we will discuss what it means to declare a college minor and why it matters.
What is a minor?
A college minor is a type of specialization that can coexist with a college major or be different. It is simply a secondary academic discipline that might broaden your horizons or define your expertise.
A mathematics major minoring in French can be an example of a minor not related to a major while an education student minoring in English can be an example of a minor related to a major.
A college minor can comprise five or more classes within a discipline. To use a discipline as a minor, you must finish the courses with a passing grade.
You need to finish the major and minor programs simultaneously to achieve enrollment requirements at a university or college.
You cannot study a minor without a major but you can graduate without declaring a minor. Simply put, Minors are extra programs that you can declare to further specify your studies.
7 Benefits of having a minor
- A College Minor sets you apart
- Students can get personal fulfillment by exploring areas of interest
- Students learn about unrelated disciplines
- It can expand the social circles of students
- Students gain knowledge in fields related to their major
- A college minor will boost a student’s graduate school resume
- It makes holders desirable employers
- A college minor sets you apart
Having a minor set a student apart. It makes him or her stand out in every way, especially in the job market.
It also shows that the student can multitask, is good at beating deadlines, and is intellectual.
- Students learn about unrelated disciplines
Another benefit of studying a college minor is that it exposes you to fields that you might have never come across.
For instance, a theatre major pursuing a major in business can be eye-opening and probably lead to them having an interest in entrepreneurship.
If you want to expand your horizons, taking a college minor is a good idea.
- Students can get personal fulfillment by exploring areas of interest
Students can explore fields of interest through a college minor and, this can boost their confidence, happiness, and knowledge. For example, a biology student with a passion for arts can pursue a minor in fine arts.
- It can expand the social circles of students
Students who study a college minor get to meet more people outside their major and this can increase their social circles. It can allow them to meet new people and probably make friends that last a lifetime. Plus, it can be fun.
- Students gain knowledge in fields related to their major
A college minor gives students the advantage of gaining knowledge in fields related to their major. This can help boost their knowledge and understanding of their major.
For example, a student with a major in communication can gain a lot of knowledge and skills by taking English as a college minor.
- A college minor will boost a student’s graduate school resume
Students who plan on going to graduate school will benefit from having a college minor. It helps set a student apart especially if they plan to go to elite graduate schools.
For instance, a biology student who has a minor in music stands out more than students who only have a biology major.
- It makes holders desirable employers
People with college minors have more advantages in the job market than those who don’t. It shows employees that the candidate is versatile, can multitask, and beats deadlines, among other things.
Disadvantages of getting a minor
As they say “Anything that has an advantage has a disadvantage.” Below are some of the disadvantages of getting a college minor.
- Getting a minor can be time exhausting
It is hard and time-consuming to handle one course, imagine handling two courses. To achieve this you have to master time management.
- It can be costly
Studying a minor can be expensive. You will have to buy books, and other things needed for your minor as well as your college major.
- The workload can be difficult to handle
Studying a minor means that you get almost double the school work. Dealing with all this can be difficult. The workload can be insane.
- Time for classes/courses can clash
One issue those studying a minor face is dividing their time. Especially when two courses they are taking clash.
- It can cost your social life
It’s already hard having a social life with a college major, now imagine doing that with an added minor. Students might have to cut out some of their extracurricular activities to focus and get all their school works done.
How to choose a minor in college
Choosing a minor is also important as choosing a major. Below are steps you need to thaw when choosing a college/university major.
- What are your major and interests?
- What area do you want to improve?
- Take time to research all of the minors your college/university offers
- Make sure you review the minor requirements for particular programs
- Seek counsel from your advisor
- What are your major and interests?
The first thing to consider before getting a college minor is your major and your areas of interest. You can study minors closely related to your major or minors unrelated to your majors.
The beauty of getting a minor is that you can have the best of both worlds. You can study the course of your choice as your major and a minor which is your hobby or something that fascinates you.
For example, if you are majoring in biology but have a passion for theatre, you can make theatre your minor and enjoy the best of both worlds. You could even learn a foreign language or gain in-depth knowledge of history by making them a minor.
- What area do you want to improve?
Another thing to consider when selecting a minor is the area you want to improve. If you studying a science course but want to brush up on your drawing skills. You can choose fine art as your minor.
This will not only improve your skills and knowledge in that area it will also challenge you and keep your passion alive.
- Take time to research all of the minors your college/university offers
Before deciding on what minor to study make sure that your school offers it. It will be sad to plan a minor to study and your university doesn’t offer it.
Take time and investigate all the minors your college/university offers and then choose the minor you want.
- Make sure you review the minor requirements for particular programs
When you have chosen the minor or minors you are considering studying, it is important to do more research and uncover the requirements needed to study that course.
Doing this will help you decide if that is something you can handle. If not, you can choose another minor you can handle along with your major.
- Seek counsel from your advisor
If you are still not sure about what to discipline to minor in. It is necessary to meet your academic advisor and discuss your options.
Be open to their counsel and ask questions whenever you are confused. Work with your advisor to select the minor that works for you.
You can also fill out your minor declaration form during the meeting with your advisor, depending on your school.
Your academic advisor can help you plan the rest of your college semesters according to your minor and major. Plus, they can help you fill out your minor declaration form. They can also identify the course you need to complete your minor and major. This will help you schedule your classes easily.
List of minors you should consider studying
Below are some beneficial minors you can consider studying.
- Creative Writing
- Multimedia Journalism
- Urban Studies/Planning
- Environmental Science
- Queer Studies
- African (or Africana) Studies
- Business
- Animal Studies
Conclusion
A college minor is studied alongside a major either to advance the student’s knowledge in the field there are majoring in or to broaden their horizons.
Having a college minor has many benefits, and students should reap these benefits. It broadens the horizons of students, makes them desirable in the job market, and expands their social circles, among other things.
All this and more are why having a college minor matters. We hope that you found this article on ” What is a minor in college and why it matters” informative.
